I got this in email and I thought would be a great opportunity for us to read this email and contact de**************@gm***.com to share your past experience of Audism.  I believe it is important that we all get involved with this and share our experience.

Please read below message: 

DEAF LIFE is planning a cover feature about audism. I’m thinking about a “round-table” approach, in which several eminent Deaf people (teachers, advocates, and grassroots readers), and some hearing allies of the Deaf community,share their views. (We consider audism a problem that affects deaf AND hearing people.)

Some questions to jump-start:

As we know, Tom Humphries coined the term audism in his 1975 doctoral dissertation, paralleling racism and sexism—an oppressive mindset towards the Deaf community, based on the belief that Hearing values are superior to Deaf values.

Does audism truly exist?

What has been your direct (or indirect) experience with it?

Has audism existed since the beginning of history? Won’t it continue to be a problem as long as there’s a vibrant Deaf community?

Is it possible for ASL-using Deaf people to practice audism against each other? (I understand Dr. Genie Hertz’s definition of dyconscious audism, an internalization of audist oppression manifested by a deaf person.)

What can we do to combat it?

How can we solve this intractable problem? Is it possible to overcome?

Any other comments you’d like to make? Your input is welcome.

I would also like a good high-resolution, large-file headshot.

Deadline is the beginning of January, so (hopefully) this will give you time to work out a good response.

Enthusiastically,

Matthew S. Moore
Publisher, DEAF LIFE, DEAF LIFE Japan
President, Deaf Life Japan Company
1095 Meigs Street
Rochester, NY 14620-2405